Nazareth council member resigns

J. Michael Davis irked some by advocating building plan while planning to move.

September 06, 2006|By Arlene Martínez Of The Morning Call

Nazareth Councilman J. Michael Davis, one of the leading proponents of a controversial plan to build a government center at the site of council chambers, has resigned.

In his letter announcing his decision, read during Monday's council meeting, 71-year-old Davis urged council to "put their talents and energies on improvements that will benefit all citizens and not a selfish few."

Davis had in recent months been criticized for his role in the debate leading up to the proposal, which would add space at council's building at 159 W. Center St. to house police and administration. He had been part of a committee charged with making recommendations that met without public advertisement -- possibly a violation of the state's open meetings law -- which irritated some residents, as did his advocating for a multimillion dollar project when he was planning to move.

Indeed, Davis' letter invites council and friends to visit him at his new home in the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina.

Some council members and residents of a committee formed in opposition of the building expansion said Davis' resignation would have little effect on what direction the project proceeds.

"I think we still have a lot of work to do," said Lori Bernardo, a member of the Concerned Citizens of Nazareth.

"I hope [Davis' successor] comes in with his own thoughts on the project," said Councilman John Samus, who supports the building project. "Hopefully the person who takes the seat will have an open mind."

Davis joined council in 1995, replacing Clayton Geake, who died.

His background is education, and he spent more than four decades in the field, as a professor at Western Carolina University in North Carolina, at deanships at Morehead State University in Kentucky and Austin Peay State University in Tennessee and, before retiring, as dean of professional studies at East Stroudsburg University.

In his resignation letter, Davis said he plans to continue his volunteer work, perhaps at Habit for Humanity, which builds homes for the impoverished and disaster stricken.

In other news, the borough voted to approve its share of the Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity's budget. The roughly $77,000 was calculated by multiplying a per-person fee of $19.64 by the number of residents who pay the earned income tax.